VIJAYAWADA:
Demanding the reinstatement of 487 work-charged and NMR employees, whose services were terminated from the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board (APHB), members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) city unit staged a relay hunger strike in front of the Sub-Collector's office here on Thursday.

Expressing solidarity to the employees, who were staging relay fast at the venue for the last five days, the BJP city unit president, L.R.K. Prasad, demanded that the State Government issue orders reinstating the staff.

It was unfair on the part of the State Government to terminate the services of the employees, who had served for over three decades, he said.

Mr. Prasad said that the city unit of the party had represented the issue to its State unit with an appeal to exert pressure on the State Government for the reinstatement of the employees.

The APHB employees raised slogans against the State Government and demanded that the Government reinstate them.

The general secretary of the BJP city unit, P.V. Srirama Sai, the State committee executive member, V. Srinivasa Raju, the zonal in-charge of the BJYM, Y. Jaganmohan Raju and others were present.

Meanwhile, addressing a separate press conference, the president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), D. Pradeep Kumar, said that the silver jubilee celebrations of the BJP would be held in the city in November. To mark the occasion, the party would take up a motorcycle rally and organise a public meeting, Mr. Kumar said.

Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Kumar criticised the State Government for not providing employment to youth. There was an increase in crime rate in the last one year, he said.